Question

A student nurse examines an Asian-American infant's eyes and notes that the infant's eyes are crossed. Which statement by the student to the nurse indicates an understanding of this finding?

1."It probably is strabismus because the baby's mother has abused tranquilizers."
2."It probably isn't strabismus but appears that way because of the child's ethnic background."
3."You will want to call the pediatrician immediately because this could lead to a detached retina."
4."Strabismus isn't life threatening, but it requires surgery in the first 2 months to prevent the crossed eyes from being a lifelong condition.

Answer 1

The statement acknowledging that an appearance of crossed eyes in an Asian-American infant might be due to the child's ethnic background, and not necessarily strabismus, shows an understanding of this finding. While strabismus usually doesn't require immediate surgery, any concerns about an infant's eyes should be referred to a pediatrician.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a student nurse observes that an Asian-American infant's eyes appear to be crossed, a statement indicating understanding of this finding could be, "It probably isn't strabismus but appears that way because of the child's ethnic background." This is because epicanthal folds, which are more common in Asian ethnicity, can give the appearance of crossed eyes when in fact the eyes are normal. It's also important to consider that strabismus typically does not require immediate surgery within the first 2 months, and it is not associated with tranquilizer abuse or a risk of detached retina at infancy. Furthermore, while eye infections transmitted during birth, like gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum, can lead to serious conditions if left untreated, they do not typically present as strabismus but rather with symptoms like purulent discharge. If there is a concern about the infant's vision or eye alignment, the appropriate response would be to monitor the situation and refer to a pediatrician for an examination and potential follow-up with a pediatric ophthalmologist.